THE 



CONSTITUTION & BY-IiAWS 



OF THE 



/ 

NEW-YORK 

instituted in the City of New-York, the 10th day of December, 1804. 

Printed at GRATTAN'S OFFICE, 22 Wall-street. 
1829. 



CONSTITUTION. 

I. This Society shall be denominated " The New- 
York Historical Society." 

II. The object of the Society shall be to discover, 
procure, and preserve whatever may relate to the natu- 
ral, civil, literary, medical, and ecclesiastical history of 

he United States in general, and of this State in par- 
cular. 

III. The Society shall consist of resident and hono- 
rary members ; the former to be persons residing in 
the State of New-York ; the latter persons residing 
elsewhere. 

IV. The officers of the Society to be elected an- 
\lly and by ballot, shall be, 

A President, 

A first Vice-President, 

A second Vice-President, 

A Treasurer, 

A Secretary, 

A Librarian. 

V. All members (honorary members excepted) shall 
pay, on admission, the sum o£ten dollars, and an ad- 



letter. He shall keep, in suitable books to be provid- 
ed for that purpose, true copies of all letters written in 
the name of the Society, and preserve the originals of 
all letters and communications received. 

IV. The Treasurer shall receive and keep all sums 
of money due and payable, and all donations and be- 
quests of money or other property made to the Socie- 
ty. He shall pay all such sums as may be incurred 
for the ordinary expenses of the Societ}^ He shall 
keep a true and faithful account of all moneys received 
and paid by him, and once in every year render a par- 
ticular statement of the same to the Society, who shall 
appoint a committee of three members to examine and 
audit the accounts of the Treasurer. 

V. All donations of books, pamphlets, manuscripts, 
and articles of curiosity, shall be received with thanks, 
and entered on the books of the Society, with the 
names of the donors. 

A member, on paying to the Treasurer annually, the 
sum of dollars in addition to the dues established 
by the constitution of the Society, shall have the privi- 
lege of proposing the purchase of a work or works, by 
delivering to the Librarian, in writing, the title, price, 
and publisher's name. The proposition shall be sub- 
mitted to the officers of the Society, and they shall 
adopt or reject the same, as to them shall seem expe- 
dient. 

It shall be the duty of the Librarian to procure all 



works so proposed and adopted by the officers, and 
without delay, by importation or otherwise. 

All works so proposed, ordered ^nd procured, shall 
be deposited by the Librarian in cases apart from the 
general Library, to be circulated among and referred 
to by such only, as shall have contributed to the fund 
expressly raised and appropriated for the purchasing 
such recommended works. 

No work or works shall be ordered or procured un- 
der this section if the cost thereof exceeds the amount 
of funds in the Treasury belonging to this special ac- 
count. 

The amount paid to the Treasurer on this account, 
shall be kept distinct from the other concerns of the 
Society. 

YI. The Librarian shall also be the keeper of the 
Cabinet until the Society think proper to appoint an- 
other person to that office ; he shall carefully keep 
and preserve, in suitable cases to be provided for that 
purpose, or in such manner as the Society may direct, 
all the books, pamphlets, manuscripts, and articles be- 
longing to the Society. 

• All pamphlets, except duplicates, shall be bound in 
volumes, and all the books shall be numbered by a la- 
bel on the outside, and on the title-page of each vol- 
ume shall be written the number, and the words, "The 
property of the Historical Society." All manuscripts 
to be marked and numbered, and kept in cases to be 



8 

numbered, and the contents marked on the outside. — 
Every member taking any book or manuscript out of 
the Library, shall -jive a receipt for the same in a book 
to be provided for that purpose ; which receipt shall 
contain a promise to return the book within three 
months, and to make good all damages which it 
may suffer in the mean time ; and in case the book 
shall not be returned within the time specified, that he 
will replace the same, if it can be obtained, or deliver 
to the Librarian such book or books as in the opinion 
of the officers of the Society shall be of equal value, or 
pay the value thereof in money ; but the Society may 
direct the Librarian not to lend such particular books 
and manuscripts as are of great rarity or value. 

No book or, manuscript shall be lent to any person 
but a member of the Society ; and if any other person 
is desirous to have the use of any book or manuscript, 
application must be made in his behalf to the Libra- 
rian, by one of the members, who shall give a receipt 
for such book or manuscript, expressing the name and 
place of abode of the person to whom the same is lent, 
and engaging for the return of it within three months, 
and to be accountable for the damage or loss thereof. 



TO THE PUBLIC. 

The Address of the New- York Historical Society. 



Having formed an association, for the purpose of 
discovering, procuring, and preserving whatever may 
relate to the natural, civil, literary, medical and ecclesi- 
astical history of our country, and particularly of the 
State of New-York, we solicit the aid of the liberal, 
patriotic and learned, to promote the objects of our in- 
Btitution. 

The utility of societies for the advancement of sci- 
ence, has been so fully proved by the experience of the 
most enlightened nations of Europe, and by that of our 
own country, that there can be no need, at this time, of 
any formal arguments in support of their claim to public 
patronage. 

It is well known that many valuable manuscripts and 
papers relating to the history of our country remain in 
the possession of those who, though unwilling to en- 
trust them to a single person, would yet cheerfully con- 
fide them to a public institution, m whose custody they 
might be preserved for the general benefit of society. 
To rescue from the dust and obscurity of private repo- 

1* 



10 

sitories such important documents, as are liable to he 
lost or destroyed by the indifference or neglect of those 
into whose hands they may have fallen, is a primary 
object of our attention. 

The paucity of materials relating to the first settle- 
ment and to the colonial transactions of this State, and 
the extreme difficulty of procuring them can be fully 
appreciated by those only who have projected an his- 
torical monument of those events, and for this purpose 
have examined into the nature and amount of their 
resources. Without the aid of original and authentic 
documents, history can be nothing more than a well 
combined series of ingenious conjectures and amusing 
fables ; and, therefore, as the cause of truth is interest- 
ing to all men, those who possess the means, however 
small, of preventini^ error, or of elucidating obscure 
facts, will confer a benefit on mankind by communica- 
ting them to the world. 

We do not aspire to the higher walks of general sci- 
ence, but shall confine the range of our exertions to the 
humble task of collecting and preserving whatever may 
be useful to others in the diflerent branches of histo- 
Hcal inquiry. We aim not to be rivals to other institu- 
tions, but, on the contrary, shall rejoice to co-operate 
with them in pursuing the objects of our common re- 
searches ; satisfied if, in the end, our efforts shall be 
attended with equal success. 

Our inquiries are not limited to a single State or dis- 



11 

trict, but extend to the whole Continent ; and it will be 
our business to diffuse the information we may collect 
in such manner as will best conduce to general intruc- 
tion. As soon as our collection shall be sufficient to 
form another volume,* and the funds of the Society will 
admit, we shall commence its publication, that we may 
better secure our treasures by means of the press, from 
the corrosions of time and the power of accident. 

That this object may be sooner and more effectually 
attaraed, we request all who feel disposed to encourage 
our design, to transmit, as soon as convenient, to the 
Society, 

Manuscripts, Records, Pamphlets, and Books rela- 
tive to the History of this Country ; 

Orations, Sermons, Essays, Discourses, Poems, 
and Tracts ; delivered, written, or published on any 
public occasion ; or which concern any public transac- 
tion or remarkable character or event ; 

Laws, Journals, Copies of Records, and Proceed- 
ings of Congresses, Legislatures, General Assemblies, 
Conventions, Committees of Safety, Secret Commit- 
tees for General Objects, Treaties and JVegociations 
with any Indian Tribes, or with any State or Nation ; 

Proceedings of Ecclesiastical Conventions, Synods, 
General Assemblies, Presbyteries, and Societies of all 
denominations of Christians ; 

* Four volumes have been published by the Society. 



12 

Narratives of Missionaries, and Proceedings of Mis- 
sionary Societies ; 

Narratives of Indian Wars, Battles, and Exploits ; 
of the Adventures and Sufferings of Captives, Voya- 
gers, and Travellers ; 

Minutes and Proceedings of Societies for the Aboli- 
tion of Slavery, and the Transactions of Societies for 
Political, Literary, and ScientiHc Purposes ; 

Accounts of Universities, Colleges, Academies, and 
Schools ; their origin, progress, and present state ; 

Topographical Descriptions of Cities, Towns, Coun- 
ties, and Districts, at various periods, with Maps, and 
whatever relates to the progressive Geography of the 
Country ; 

Statistical Tables — Tables of Diseases, Births and 
Deaths, and of Population ; of Meteorological Obser- 
vations, and facts relating to Climate ; 

Accounts of Exports and Imports at various periods, 
and of the progress of Manufactures and Commerce ; 

Magazines, Reviews, Newspapers, and other Pe- 
riodical Pubhcations, particularly such as appeared an- 
tecedent to the year 1783 ; 

Biographical Memoirs and Anecdotes of eminent 
and remarkable Persons in America, or who have been 
connected with its settlement or history ; 

Original Essays and Disquisitions on the Natural, 
Civil, Literary, or Ecclesiastical History of any State, 
City, Town, or District. 



13 

As the Society intend to form a Library and Cabinet, 
they will gratefully receive Donations of books and 
pamphlets relative to the above objects, they will be 
thankfully accepted, and all communications duly no- 
ticed in the publications of the Society. Coins and 
Medals will be very acceptable to the Society. 



DONORS 

TO THE 

NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

ACKERLEY, DR. 

ALBANY INSTITUTE, 

ALDEN, REV. TIMOTHY 

ALLEN, WILLIAM 

ANDERSON, DR. ALEXANDER 

AMERICAN FHILOS. SOC, PHILADELPHIA 

BARD, DR. SAMUEL 

BARD, WILLIAM 

BAYARD, SAMUEL, of New-Jersey. 

BECK, DR. I. B. 

BENSON, JUDGE EGBERT 

BENTLEY, REV. WILLIAM, of Salem. 

BIBLE SOCIETY, AMERICAN 

BLAKE JOHN L., of Providence. 

BLEECHER, AXTEIONY L. 

BLEECPIER, COLONEL JOHN 

BLEECHER, LRONARD 

BLUNT, JOSLPK 

BOUDINOT, ELLAS, of N. Jersey. 

BRADBURY, JOHN 

BRASHER, PHILIP 

BRUCE, DR. ARCHIBALD 

BRUCE, GEORGE 



16 

BUCHAN, EAKL OF 
BURRILL, JONATHAN 
BURTSELL, PETER 

CAMPBELL, SAMUEL 

CHRISTIAN, CHARLES 

CLINTON, DE WITT 

COLDEN, CADWALADER D. 

COLEMAN, WILLIAM 

COLLINS, ISAAC 

COLLINS & CO., THOMAS 

COLLINS fc PERKINS, 

COMMISSIONERS OF THE CANAL FUND, 

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, 

COOPER, JAMES FENNIMORE 

COOPER, WILLIAM 

CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF N. YORK, 

CRANE, TIMOTHY B. 

DARBY, WILLIAM 
DAVIDSON, DR. R., of New-Orleans. 
DAY, THOMAS, of Connecticut. 
DE KAY, DR. JAMES E. 
DEL AFIELD, JOHN, 1st. 
DELAFIEl.D, JOHN, 2d. 
DELAFIELD, JOHN, Jun. 
DELAFIELD, RICHARD 
DELAPLAI^'. JOS., of Philadelphia. 
DE PEYSTER, FRED. JUN. 

DE WITT, 

DE WITT, SLMEON 
DIXEY, MR. 
DRAKE, D. 
DUER, WILLIAM 



17 

EARL OF BUCHAN, 
EASTBURN, JAMES 
EBELING, CHRISTOPH DANIEL 
EDDY, JOHN 

FAIRLEY, JAMES 
FALCONER, WILLIAM 
FISH, WHITEHEAD 
FRANCIS, DR. JOHN W. 
FRAZER, DR. 

GELSTON, DAVID 
GELSTON, MALTBY 
GHAN, HENRY, (Swedish Consul.) 
GOELET, PETER P. 
GOODRICH & CO. 
GOULD, E. B. 
GRACIE, WILLIAM 
GREENHOW, ROBERT 
GREENLEAF, JOSEPH 
GREGOIRE, ABBE, of Paris. 
GRISCOM, DR. JOHN 

HALL,JOPIN E., of Philadelphia. 

HARDCASTLE,MR. 

HARDIE, JAMES 

HAZARD, EBENEZER, of Philadelphia. 

HOFFMAN, JUDGE 

HOPKINS, GEO. F. 

HOSACK, DR. DAVID 

HOSACK, DR. ALEX. 

HOW% REV. T. T. 

HULL, GENERAL WILLIAM 



18 



JARVIS, I. W. 
JARVIS, REV. SAMUEL F. 
JAY, PETER AUGUSTUS 
JENKINS, ELISHA, of Albany. 
INSKEEP & BRADFORD, of Philadelphia. 
JOHNSON, WILLIAM 
JONES, JOHN 
^ IRELAND, DR. WM. M. 
IRVING, WASHINGTON 

KENT, JAMES, (Chancellor.) 
KIMBERS, E., of Philadelphia. 
KING, CHARLES 
KING, FREDERICK G. 
KIRK & MERCEIN, 
KUNZIE, REV. DR. 

LAIGHT, HENRY 

LEGISLATURE OF STATE OF N. YORK. 

LEWIS, ZACHARIAH 

LIVINGSTON, BROCKHOLST 

LONGWORTH, D. 

LUDLOW, THOMAS L. 

LYCEUM OF NAT. HIST. N. YORK, 

M'COMB, JOHN 

M'KEAN, REV. fJOSEPH, of Cambridge. 

M'KESSON, JOHN 

M'LEOD, REV. DR. 

MASON, REV. DR. JOHN 

MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

MELICK, B. 

MERCIEN, THOS. R. 

MESIER, PETER A. 



19 



MEYER, JOHN 

MITCHELL, DR. SAMUEL LATHAM 
MOORE, RT. REV. BISHOP 
MOORE, JOHN, of Hampstead. 
MORAN, EDWARD 
MORRISS, GOUVERNEUR 
MORRISS, MRS. GOUVERNEUR 
MORRISS, THOMAS 
MORTON, GEN. JACOB 
MULLIGAN, JOHN W. 

NASH, M. 

NEW-HAMPSHIRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 

NEW -YORK ATHEN^UM, 

PAINE, THOMAS 

PEALE, CHARLES W. 

PEALE, REMBRANDT 

PINTARD, JOHN 

PRESCOTT, S., of Boston. 

PRIOR & DUNNING, 

REID, MAJOR JOHN 

RIKER, RICHARD, ^Recorder.) 

RILEY, CAPT. JAMES 

RILY, E. 

ROMEYNE, DR. I. B, 

ROSE, WM. M, 

RUSH, RICHARD, of Philadelphia. 

RUTHERFORD, JOHN, of New-Jersey. 

SAMSON, WM. 
SANDS, JOSEPH 
SCHAEFFER, REV. DR. 
SCHENCK, JA'MES 



20 



SCHIEFFELIN, JACOB 
SEYMOUR, JONATHAN 
SHIPPEY, JOSEiUA 
SMITH, WILLIAM, of Quebec 
SMITH, WILLIAM 
SMITH, JAMES A. 
SPALDING, DR. LYMAN 
SPAFFORD, HORATIO GATES 
SPRAGUE, CHARLES, of Boston. 
STANFORD, I. N. 
STEVENS, GEN. EBEN. 
STEWAR1\ WALTER, of Philadelphia. 
STOUGHTON, JAMES 
STU YVES ANT, NICHS. W. 
SWORDS, JAMES 
SWORDS, T. cV^ J. 

TAYLOR, I. W. 
TORHEY, WILLIAM 
TRUMBULL, COL. JOHN 

VAN DER KEMP, ADRIAN 
VAN RENSSELAER, STEPHEN 
V A RICK. RICHARD 
VAUGflAN, JOHN, of Philadelphia 
VER PLANCK, D. C. 
VER PLANCK, GULIAN C. 
VESCHIO, MR. 

WATNW RIGHT, REV. L M. 
WALDRON, WM. I. 
WARD, MATHIAS & WILLIAM 
WARD, SAMUEL, Jun. 
WARD, SAMUEL, the 34. 



LL 111 -jS 



21 

WARDEN, DAVID B., of Paris. 
WATSON, ELKANAH 
WILKINSON, GEN. JAMES 
WINTHROP FRANCIS 
WOLCOTT, OLIVER 



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